Mums in Tech ft. Nisha Rai

As part of the ‘Mums in Tech’ series, MotherBoard caught up with Nisha Rai, Software Developer at Kyndryl.

The purpose of our ‘MotherBoard’ content series is to highlight incredible working mums within tech, as well as individuals and businesses that are supportive and progressive within their approach to creating more inclusive tech teams for women.

Firstly, can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your current role?

I am currently working as a Software Engineer at Kyndryl, where I contribute to building resilient and scalable solutions. Prior to this, I was with The Very Group, having joined as a career returner after a significant career break. This transition marked a steep learning curve, particularly in rebuilding my confidence and rediscovering my voice in a fast-paced technical environment. The experience not only sharpened my technical skills but also strengthened my ability to adapt, communicate effectively, and thrive in collaborative teams.

If you could sum up what it’s like being a working mum in tech in one sentence, what would it be?

Every day can’t be the same.

I’m a proud mother of two young children—aged 10 and 2—which makes life wonderfully busy and full of surprises. Balancing parenthood with a demanding career has taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of staying grounded. I’ve come to embrace the fact that no two days are the same; the ups and downs are part of the journey, and they keep me motivated to keep learning and growing.

How do you find the balance between your career and motherhood?

Working from home gives me flexibility and made my life easier ,its hard to say , how do I manage it as sometimes I forget to keep track of time/day ,to say the least ,how busy I am now and also got lots of support from the colleague as well when my little one makes the noise in background , they ignore that politely all the time.

What has been your greatest challenge as a working mother in tech?

To get the time for yourself, especially in tech, we need to be updated with all the latest tech and for that I need lots of time, which is the biggest challenge, luckily since then I moved to Kyndryl , they have allowed us to upgrade ourselves for few days before allotting us to new project so I am using this to learn more about Ai and Cloud.

What skills have you developed as a mother that have helped your work life?

Responsibility and delivery at any cost, besides the other traits like resilience, patience and multitasking, which I was not aware of even about myself, sometimes it surprised me how come I am able to manage all these things in one day all by myself.

When you were returning to work, what one thing helped you / would have helped you the most?

My enthusiasm and hard work which has no substitute, I always wanted to work and learn new things in tech and that one thought, kept me motivated and helped me to get back to work.

What do you feel should be the top priority for employers who want to support working mothers better?

Employers should prioritize flexibility and create space for working mothers to breathe and thrive. Believe me, most mothers are deeply motivated — they want to learn, grow, and contribute more than anyone. What they need is trust, understanding, and the freedom to manage their responsibilities without being pressured to prove themselves constantly. When employers offer genuine support, it not only enhances productivity but also fosters a healthier work environment for everyone.

Any final words of advice for other mothers in the Tech Industry?

One of my colleagues once shared a piece of advice that really stayed with me: Give yourself time—things will come to you gradually. Don’t rush to do everything at once just to prove yourself. That kind of pressure can take a toll on your mental and physical health and even affect the atmosphere at home—which is the last thing you’d want for your children.